Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate Dynamics (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate Dynamics: An Introductory Text 4
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 8
0.1. Outline, Scope, and Rationale of the Book 14
0.2. Preface 15
Chapter 1. Characteristics of the Atmosphere 22
1.1. Geometry 22
1.2. Chemical Composition of the Atmosphere 23
1.3. Physical Properties of Air 25
1.4. Problems 28
Chapter 2. The Global Energy Balance 30
2.1. Planetary Emission Temperature 30
2.2. The Atmospheric Absorption Spectrum 34
2.3. The Greenhouse Effect 35
2.4. Further Reading 41
2.5. Problems 41
Chapter 3. The Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere 44
3.1. Vertical Distribution of Temperature and Greenhouse Gases 44
3.2. The Relationship Between Pressure and Density: Hydrostatic Balance 47
3.3. Vertical Structure of Pressure and Density 49
3.4. Further Reading 50
3.5. Problems 50
Chapter 4. Convection 52
4.1. The Nature of Convection 53
4.2. Convection in Water 55
4.3. Dry Convection in a Compressible Atmosphere 60
4.4. The Atmosphere Under Stable Conditions 63
4.5. Moist Convection 67
4.6. Convection in the Atmosphere 71
4.7. Radiative-Convective Equilibrium 77
4.8. Further Reading 78
4.9. Problems 78
Chapter 5. The Meridional Structure of the Atmosphere 82
5.1. Radiative Forcing and Temperature 83
5.2. Pressure and Geopotential Height 88
5.3. Moisture 91
5.4. Winds 94
5.5. Further Reading 99
5.6. Problems 99
Chapter 6. The Equations of Fluid Motion 102
6.1. Differentiation Following the Motion 103
6.2. Equation of Motion for a Nonrotating Fluid 105
6.3. Conservation of Mass 108
6.4. Thermodynamic Equation 110
6.5. Integration, Boundary Conditions, and Restrictions in Application 110
6.6. Equations of Motion for a Rotating Fluid 111
6.7. Further Reading 125
6.8. Problems 125
Chapter 7. Balanced Flow 130
7.1. Geostrophic Motion 131
7.2. The Taylor-Proudman Theorem 138
7.3. The Thermal Wind Equation 140
7.4. Subgeostrophic Flow: The Ekman Layer 150
7.5. Problems 156
Chapter 8. The General Circulation of the Atmosphere 160
8.1. Understanding the Observed Circulation 161
8.2. A Mechanistic View of the Circulation 162
8.3. Energetics of the Thermal Wind Equation 170
8.4. Large-Scale Atmospheric Energy and Momentum Budget 175
8.5. Latitudinal Variations of Climate 178
8.6. Further Reading 179
8.7. Problems 180
Chapter 9. The Ocean and Its Circulation 184
9.1. Physical Characteristics of the Ocean 185
9.2. The Observed Mean Circulation 197
9.3. Inferences from Geostrophic and Hydrostatic Balance 203
9.4. Ocean Eddies 209
9.5. Further Reading 210
9.6. Problems 211
Chapter 10. The Wind-Driven Circulation 218
10.1. The Wind Stress and Ekman Layers 219
10.2. Response of the Interior Ocean to Ekman Pumping 227
10.3. The Depth-Integrated Circulation: Sverdrup Theory 234
10.4. Effects of Stratification and Topography 237
10.5. Baroclinic Instability in the Ocean 239
10.6. Further Reading 241
10.7. Problems 241
Chapter 11. The Thermohaline Circulation of the Ocean 244
11.1. Air-Sea Fluxes and Surface Property Distributions 245
11.2. The Observed Thermohaline Circulation 255
11.3. Dynamical Models of the Thermohaline Circulation 260
11.4. Observations of Abyssal Ocean Circulation 266
11.5. The Ocean Heat Budget and Transport 268
11.6. Freshwater Transport by the Ocean 276
11.7. Further Reading 277
11.8. Problems 277
Chapter 12. Climate and Climate Variability 280
12.1. The Ocean as a Buffer of Temperature Change 282
12.2. El Niño and the Southern Oscillation 285
12.3. Paleoclimate 294
12.4. Further Reading 313
12.5. Problems 313
Appendices 316
A.1. Derivations 316
A.2. Mathematical Definitions and Notation 317
A.3. Use of Foraminifera Shells in Paleo Climate 319
A.4. Laboratory Experiments 320
A.5. Figures and Access to Data Over the Web 323
References 324
Index 328
International Geophysics Series 342